Time-element device.



No. 830,537. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

J. G. STATTER.

TIME ELEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1905.

Flgl

/////////////Illln UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GRIUE S'lA'lTlER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO W lLLlAMMAXWELL SCOTT, ()F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIME-ELEMENT DEVlCE.--

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11,1906.

. Application filed July 31, 1905. Serial No. 272,066.

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN Gnrcn STATTER, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland,residing at Cornwall Buildings, N ewhall street,Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Time-Element Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to time-element devices applicable toelectric-circuit breakers and other apparatus, and has for its object toprevent. an apparatus or part from being actuated by a force immediatelyupon the application of that force, but to delay the actuation until theforce has been applied'for a period of time.

My invention is particularly, thou h not "exclusively, applicable in thecasec automatic circuit-breakers which are set to open a circuit whenpredetermined electrical conditions occur or exist in a circuit; and Ishall describe my'invention with reference to such a circuit-breaker.

Circuit-breakers are for the most part in tended to interrupt a circuitto prevent the apparatussuch as motors, lamps, or other translatingdevicesin that circuit from being damaged by effects due to any abnormalelectrical condition in that circuit, and very commonly they are arraned to break the circuit when the current va ue in that circuit reachesor exceeds a given value. While an excessively-great current does damageto the apparatus if allowed to persist, such current does not as a ruledamage the apparatus in circuit if it is of only very short duration. It

is therefore desirable in order to save needless resettings of thecircuit-breaker by hand that the circuit-breaker should only be tripedwhen the excess current has been passing or a period of time. T o attainthis end, va-

rious arrangements of dash-pots have been employed; but they are notsatisfactory for the reason that what a dash-pot does is not to postponeor delay the point of time at which an apparatus shall commence to actbut to determine the rate at which it acts. It is therefore only in asecondary sense that a dash-pot can be said to delay the point of timeat which an operation commences My invention consists, therefore, inadevice which for purposes of distinction I may term a start-delayingdevice, inasmuch as v by the application of a spring.

it is the point of time of starting the operaation (in the present r sothe opening of the circuit) and not the more completing or otherstage-reaching of the operation which is delayed.

More particularly my invention residesin a startdelaying devicecomprising a sucker, associated. with the tripping mechanism of acircuit-breaker or with any other controlling mechanism.

For an illustration of several of the forms my invention may takereference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a vertical sectional view of a solenoid-tripping mechanism with thetime element device associated therewith. Fig. 2

is. an enlarged view showing the movable sucker-disk and attached parts,partly in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modifiedform of sucker-disk having channels therein. Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe sucker-disk shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly invertical section,

showing the arrangement of Fig. 1 modified Fig. 6 is a vertical view,partly in section, of a modified. form of sucker involving the use of aflexible dome-diaphragm.

Referring to Fig. l, the solenoid-winding 1 has the magnetizable core 2,which is adapted to be drawn up into the winding 1 by a magnetic actionin the well-known manner. A casing 3 surrounds the solenoid and supportsb its top wall a stationary core-piece 2, wit in which is mounted forvertical movement the pin 2, having the head 2 When the core 2 is drawnupwardly, it strikes the under side of the pin 2, causing the head 2 tostrike the latch or the latch mechanism of a circuit-breaker in thewell-known manner. In the lower wall of the casing 3 and directly' underthe solenoid 1 is a circular opening threaded to receive the tube 4, ofbrass or non-magnetic material. The tube 4 instead of beingscrew-threaded for a length merely sufficient to prevent it from beingsecurely held in the casing 3 is threaded throughout the whole of itslength. A hollow cylinder 5 is threaded at its top opening to receivethe The inside of the bottom wall 6 is depth at least with liquidsuch asoil, glycerin, 0r othersuitable material. Obviously the relativepositions of the tube 4 and the cylinder 5- are easily adjustable. I Thesolenoid core 2 extends downwardly into the tube 4 and has an axial hole7 drilled therein and screw-threaded to receive the screw-threaded rod8, of non-magnetic-material. The length of the rod 8 below the core 2 isadjustable by screwing it into 'or out of the hole 7, and its positionis maintained b means of the locknut 9. At the lower en of the rod 8 isa ball member 10, formin one part of a ball-andsoeket joint, the soc etof which is formed by a cap 11, which screws onto aboss or projection 12on the sucker disk or plate 13, as will be readily understood from Fig.2. The lower face of the disk 13 is approximate] truly lane as is alsothe up er face of the we 1 ,6 of t 1e cylinder 5 with w ch it makescontact. The weight ofthe solenoid-core 2 is sufficient to press thedisk firmly upon the bottom wall 6.

The oil, glycerin, or other suitable material within the cylinder 5 isdisplaced by the disk 13 and the bottom wall 6.

The two surfaces or faces adhere together and are not easily separatedby a sudden pull.

' The pull is, in fact, completely resisted and if continuing for aperiod of time is com letely yielded to. This is entirely differentbehavior from the case'of a dashot where the pull or force is yielded tofrom t e very beginning, although retarded throughout its duration. Itwill be seen then that the disk 13 and wall 6 act precisely on theprinciple of a sucker, as employed in the well-known childs toy of thatname, or. in a well-known form of railway readin -lamp where such adevice is used for attaching the lamp to the car-window. As the tube 4and cylinder 5 are easily 'ad'ustable with relation to each other it ispossible to adjust -the solenoid 2 to any desired position with respectto the winding 1, so that the core 2 would except for the time-elementdevice immediately operate on the passage of any predetermined excesscurrent to strike the pin 2 and trip the circuit-breaker. This adustmentis made by rotating the c linder 5.

upon the tube 4, so as to raise or ower the core 2. The cylinder 5 has apin or stud 14 projecting laterally from it, which pin orstud is engagedwithin a slot 15 in the spring 15, secured to the casing 3 at 16. Theaccidental or undesired rotation of the cylinder 5 under shock orvibration or for any other cause is thus obviated.

Instead of depending solel u on the weight of the core 2 to cause t edlsk 13 to displace the liquid in the cylinder 5 a spring 17, as shownin Fig. 5, maymtervene between the top of the disk 13 and the bottomwall 4 of the tube 4.

In some cases the face of the disk 13 instead of being plane, as beforedescribed, may havedepressions therein. Such depressions may compriseconcentric channels 18, as shownin Figs. 3 and 4, or in some cases thesmear sucker ma be constructed as shown in Fig. 6, where t e ring-shapedsucker-plate 19 cogperates with theplate or wall 6. The flexie diaphragm20, of leather, rubber, sheet metal, or other suitable material, issecured at its outeredge around its entire circumference to the ring 19and has a small 0 ening at its center to permit the passage 0 the rod21, which carries at its lower end an enlargement or the valve 22. Therod 21 extends also through the hub 23, in which converge the arms 24,secured upon the ring 19." A valveseat 25 isformed in the lower side ofthe hub 23, and onto this seat is forced the diaphragm 20 by the valve22 when the rod 21 is drawnupwardly by the initial movement of thesolenoid-core or the intervening mechamsm. When the diaphragm is heldagainst the seat 25 by the valve 22, an air-tight joint is made.

Not until this position is reached is the start-.-

breaker is not tripped so long as the current is less than that value orexceeds that value for very short periods of time only. When the currentdoes exceed the redctermined value, however, the magnetic orce acting ondevice the core 2 to draw it upwardly is transmitted throu h theball-and-socket joint to the disk 13. gince the force ersists orcontinues, the disk 13, because '0 its sucker-like action, eventuallysuddenly leaves the plate 6, and the core 2 rises unretarded throu houtits entire movement and strikes the pin 2" to trip the circuit-breaker.If, however, the excess current does not persist for such len th oftime, the parts remain'in the position shown. If,

however, a very heavy excess current occurs,

the force acting upon the core 2 will be sufficient to suddenly andpractically instantane ously pullthe disk 13 away from the plate 6, sothat the circuit-breaker will be tri ped immediately upon the occurrenceof t e great excess of current. It thus appears that the start-delayingdevice is a device difi'erentiating between forces of differentmagnitudes to yield to moderate forces only after a certain interval oftime, but to yield practically instantly to very great forces. It isseen that the parts do no,t move at all during the excess currentuntil-the disk 13 leaves the late 6, and then the parts-move throughtheir entire path Without any retardation. In the case of a dash-pot themovement starts as soon as the excess current exists before the movementis retarded. There is a further disadvantage with a dash-pot in that asthe core 2 rises the force acting on it increases, so that the partsmove faster and faster. With the start-delaying device, however, thereis practically no movement of parts until the force has existed'l'or aperiodoi time sufficient to pull the disk from the plate. 6.Furthermore, with this start-delaying device there is no backlash, adisadvantage common to dash-pot time-element devices. As an example othe mode of operation of this startdelaying dev ce I may cite theresults ob-' taincd with a circuit-breaker of a capacity of and'ad ustedfor five hundred amperes. When the current value was five hundred andtwenty-five 'amperes in the circuit, the circuit-breaker did not open atall. With a current of six hundred amperes the circuitseconds, and withtwo thousand amperes it 'was opened instantly.v These measurements weretaken roughly; but they are sullicient to illustrate the-law of thedevice.

What I claim is 4 1. In controlling mechanism, the combination with amovable element, of a startdelaying device comprising'a sucker.

2. In controlling mechanism, the combination with a movable element, ofa startdelaying device comprising juxtaposed surfaces, and liquidadhering to said surfaces.

3. In tripping mechanism, the combination with an electroresponsivedevice, of a sucker associated with a movable element of said device. a

4. In tripping mechanism, the combination with an electroresponsivedevice, of means associated with a movable element of said deviceoperatin to prevent initial movement of said movabi e element andthereafter to allow unretarded movement thereof.

5. In tripping mechanism, a movable tripping member, and a suckerassociated therewith, whereby said member is initially retarded andafter starting moves without retardation.

6. In controlling mechanism, the combination with a movable member, of asucker for delaying the start of said member.

7. In controlling mechanism, the combination of a magnetizing-winding, amember adapted to be moved by force produced by saidmagnetizing-winding, and a sucker associated with said member.

8. In controlling mechanism, the combination of a solenoid-winding, acore coeperating therewith, and a sucker associated with said core.

9. In controlling mechanism, the combination with a movable member, of amovable element of a sucker connected therewith, a relatively stationarysucker element, and means for adjusting the sucker with respect to saidmovable member.

10. In tripping mechanism, the combinationwith a solenoid and its core,of a relatively stationary surfaced member' adapted to a dhere-theretmand a coo eratingsurfaced member connected to the so enoid-core.

11. In tripping mechanism, the combination with a movable member, of astart-d. e laying device comprising relatively fixed and movableelements surfaced and fitting closely together.

12. In tripping mechanism, the combination witha movable member,of astart-delaying device comprising relatively fixed and movable 'eieinentssurfaced and fitting together over considerable area.

13. In tripping mechanism, the combination with a' movable trippingmember, of-a sucker, thdIilOVfi-blfl element ofsaid" sucker beingconnected to said trippingjmember, and means fbr ad usting saidmovable-sucker element with respect to saidtnpping member.

14. In tripping mechanism, the .combination with a tripping member, ofrelatively fixed and movable sucker elements, a m ov able sucker elementbeing-connected to saidmovableniember through an,universal 'oint,

15. In. trippingmechanism, the com ination with a movable member, ofrelatively fixed and movable sucker elements, a m0v.- able suckerelement connected to said movv able member, and means for permittingsaidsucker elements to adjust themselves to each other. i

16. The combination with a tripping mechanism of a circuit-breaker, of asucker assoT ciated with the movable tripping member.

. 17. The 'combinationwitha tripping mechanism of a circuit-breaker, ofmeans associated with the movable tripping member for delay ing thestart thereof.

18. The combination with the tripping mechanism of a circuit-breaker, ofmeans associated with the movable tri ping member for preventing thestart thereo until after an interval of time and thereafter ermittingthe start and subsequent unretar ed movement thereof.

19. In circuit-breaker tripping mechanism, the eombination with amovable member, of a time-element device comprising a sucker.

20. The combination with the tripping mechanism of a circuit-breaker, ofmeans associated with the tri ping member for delaying the start thereoduring the continuance of a redetermined electrical condition andyielding instantly upon the occurrence of a different electricalcondition.

21. The combination with the tripping mechanism of a circuit-breaker, ofmeans associated with the tri ping member for delay ing the startthereofi during the existence of an abnormal current-flow and instantlyyielding u on the occurrence of still greater currentow.

22. In tripping mechanism, the combination with a tripping member, ofmeans differentiating between forces of different magnitudes appliedthereto to delay the start of said tripping member upon the applicationof a moderateforce and to yield instantly to substantially greaterforce. 23. In controllin mechanism, the combination with a mova 1emember, of a single device differentiating between forces of differentmagnitudes to delay the start of said member during the application of amoderate force thereto and to ieldinstantly under a substantiallygreater orce. r v 24. In controllin mechanism, the combination with amova le member, of a time-element device consistin of a single meansdifferentiating between cross of different magnitudes to retard saidmovable member during the application of a moderate force and toinstantaneously release said member upon El e occurrence of asubstantially greater oree.

25. In controlling mechanism, a movable member, a sucker elementconnected therewith, a stationary sucker element comprising a cup, and afilm of liquid in said cup.

26. In controlling mechanism, a support, a movable member, a suckerelement connected to said member, and a cooperating sucker elementadjustable with respect to said support.

movable member, a sucker element connected with said movable member, acooperating sucker element comprising a cup, means for adjusting saidcup with respect to said su porting member, and means for locking saidcup in adjusted position.

27. In controlling mechanism, a support, a

laying device comprismg juxtaposed surfaces,

and material adhering to said surfaces to oppose their separation.

29. In controlli mechanism, the combination with a mova is member, of astart-delaying device com rising juxtaposed surfaces,

and a thin la er 0 material between said surfaces and ad ering thereto.

30. In controllin mechanism, the combition with a movab e member, of astart-dela 'ng device comprising juxtaposed surfaces a apted to adhereto each other.

--31. In electrical controlling mechanism,

the combination with a movable member, of relativelyfixed and movablesuck'er elements, a movable sucker element being connected to saidmovable member b'ya ball-and-socket oint. p

32. In electrical controlling mechanism, the combination with a movablemember, of a relatively movable sucker element, and an universal 'ointbetween said sucker element and mova 1e member.

33. In controlling mechanism, the combination with a movable member,'ofa start-delaying device comprising a sucker, an element of said suckerhaving a plurality .of depressions in its active surface.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GRIOE STATTER.

Witnesses:

ALFRED NUTTING, F. L. BAND.

